Since 1886 the VBA has promoted the general welfare of Vermont's Honey Industry, while sustaining a friendly body of unity among the state's beekeepers.

The Vermont Beekeepers Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, represents hundreds of beekeepers that raise bees for the love and honey. We’re as diverse as the 246 towns in Vermont, but are unified in our fascination with and affection for bees. Most of us are hobbyists, but there are some “side liners” who try to make a bit of extra income from their 25-200 hives as well as a handful of full-time professionals. Join Today!

All hives and locations must be registered with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets.

Maintain membership in a local and/or state beekeeping organization.

Participate in meetings and beekeeping organizations.

Subscribe to one or more beekeeping journals to keep up to date on what is happening in the beekeeping industry.

Take a beekeeping class, and/or attend club sponsored workshops.

Complete the VBA Certification Program.

Visit and explore the many great beekeeping websites online.CONSIDERATIONS FOR HIVE PLACEMENT AND MAINTENANCE

Keep records of all bee related activities.

Maintain hive numbers appropriate for the size of the property taking into consideration the surrounding land uses and potential for negative human or animal interactions.

Keep no more than 2 hives (and one nuc) on a property of ¼ acre or less.

Keep no more than 4 hives (and 2 nucs) on a property of ¼ to ½ acre.

Keep no more than 6 hives (and 3 nucs) on a property of ½ to 1 acre.

Regardless of lot size: if all hives are situated at least 200 feet in any direction from all property lines of the lot on which the apiary is situated, no limit on the number of hives.

Regardless of lot size: as long as all adjoining property that falls within a 200 foot radius of any hive is undeveloped property, no limit on the number of hives.

No hives will be maintained in a residential area in such a manner as will constitute a substantial nuisance to any neighbors, pets or livestock.

No hives should be located within 10 feet of any property line.

All hives within 20 feet of a property line should have a solid fence or vegetative barrier 5 feet or more in height between the hives and the property line.

All hives within 30 feet of a public sidewalk or roadway should have a solid fence or dense vegetative barrier or be elevated so as to direct the fight path of the bees well above traffic and pedestrians.

Do not locate any hives within 50 feet of any tethered, fenced, or kenneled animal.

Build or plant screens so hives are out of sight as much as possible.

Use neutral colors for hives so that they may “blend in” better with their surroundings.

An adequate supply of water should be provided from March 1 to October 31.ROUTINE AND ON-GOING MAINTENANCE

Maintain only gentle colonies and employ good swarm control techniques.

Re-queen any colonies that act aggressively over a period of time.

Ideally, all queens should be marked.

All hives must be in moveable frame hives to facilitate inspection for brood diseases.

Colonies should be inspected by the beekeeper, OR their delegate, periodically to insure they are queen-right, have no unmanaged disease or pest issues and have adequate space for expansion of both the brood nest and for honey storage.

WHEN AND HOW TO INSPECT COLONIES

Do not manipulate or disturb colonies if neighbors or the general public are participating in outside activities or using machinery within 75 feet of the apiary.

Do not open colonies when the weather is not favorable.

Only inspect colonies during the brightest and warmest times of the day, usually late morning to mid-afternoon, when field bees are most likely to be out foraging.